Mechanism for arranging and spotting bowling pins



Dec. 6, 1955 M. PATTERSON ET AL 2,726,086

MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND SPOTTING BOWLING PINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1949 INVENTOR EHEAD PATTERSON XANDER C.WALL HARD G.TH|EM A TTO EY Dec. 6, 1955 M, PATTERSON ET AL 2,726,086

MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND SPOTTING BOWLING PINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1949 INVENTOR MOREHEAD PATTERSON ALEXANDER C. WALL GER HARD G. THIEM A'rfoREE-Y Dec. 6, 1955 M. PATTERSON ET AL 2,726,086

MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND SPOTTING BOWLING PINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 28, 1949 ensow ALL M ATTO RN uiunuui.

Dec. 6, 1955 M. PATTERSON ET AL 2,726,086

MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND SPOTTING BOWLING PINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 28, 1949 INVENTOR MOREHEAD PATTERSON ALEXANDER C. WALL GERHARD G. THIEM Dec. 6, 1955 M. PATTERSON ET AL 2,726,086

MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND SPOTTING BOWLING PINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 28, 1949 INVENTOR United States Patent MECHANISM FOR ARRANGING AND SPOTTING BOWLING PINS Morehead Patterson, New York, Alexander C. Wall,

Snyder, and Gerhard G. Thiem, Butfalo, N. Y., assignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey This invention relates to bowling pin spotting machines and more particularly to bowling pin spotting machines having improved mechanisms for orienting and aligning bowling pins in such a manner that they are subjected to a minimum of handling and wear and tear from the time they are received in the pit of a bowling alley until they are placed in spotted arrangement on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

The invention consists of a bowling pin spotting machine having mechanism located in the pit of a bowling alley which receives, distributes, aligns and arranges a plurality of bowling pins in upright arrangement for delivery from said pit by means which grip and transfer such aligned upright pins from the pit of the alley and place them in playing arrangement on the playing bed of the alley.

In bowling pin spotting machines heretofore known in the art, it is customary to provide pin handling and conveying devices which. lift pins from the pit of an alley in groups or singly and deliver them upwardly to a point of discharge whence they are conveyed to means which deliver them to spotting mechanism for placement on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

In machines embodying such types of pin handling mechanisms, pins are subjected to considerable tumbling, wear and tear, and also such machines are quite noisy due to the manner in which pins are handled during their removal from the pit and subsequent travel to their respective spotting devices.

The present machine constitutes a solution of these problems because it makes possible the arranging, distribution and alignment of bowling pins in the pit of an alley. Therefore handling and movement'of pins are reduced to a minimum because there is no need for removing pins from the pit in order to effect their de livery in spotted arrangement on the spotting bed of an alley. Indeed, according to our invention, pins are de livered into aligning members in the pit of an alley where they are aligned and then positioned in handle upright arrangement ready for removal and placement in playing arrangement on the playing bed of the bowling alley with which the machine embodying our invention is associated.

Our invention therefore contributes to increased speed in the handling and spotting of pins on the playing bed of an alley, and also tends to increase the life of pins because of less wear and tear in their handling and arrangement for spotting.

It is an object of our invention to provide a novel bowling pin spotting machine including means for arranging bowling pins in the pit of an alley ready for removal thereform for placement in spotted arrangement on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

of a bowling alley and placing themin conventional triv 2 angular playing arrangement on the playing bed of the alley.

Our invention also consists in the provision of bowling pin aligning and erecting mechanism located in the pit of a bowling alley consisting of a plurality of side by side bowling pin receiving cavities or pockets, and erecting means associated therewith operative to align a plurality of bowling pins, such as a set of ten pins commonly used in the game, and after they are aligned, position them in upright arrangement in order that bowling pin spotting means coacting therewith can grip and remove a full set of pins and place such pins in triangular playing arrangement on the playing bed of an alley.

Our invention also consists in the provision of novel bowing pin manipulating and aligning mechanism located in the pit of a bowling alley wherein bowling pins falling from or swept from the playing end of an alley are distributed in transversely arranged pin receiving, aligning and erecting pockets for subsequent delivery by spotting means which spot such pins in playing arrangement on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Figure 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing means for aligning bowling pins in the pit of a bowling alley, and means for transferring aligned bowling pins from the pit to the bowling alley bed.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the pin transfer table.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one of the pin pick-up carriers of the transfer table as seen from line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken on line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of pin shaped aligning mechanism in the pit of a bowling alley in conjunction with pin agitating, and pin erecting mechanisms used therewith;

Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation showing one of the pin shaped cavities, and its pin erecting mechanism in conjunction with the pin agitators;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a single pin receiving cavity;

Figure 8 is a diagram of a suitable electrical automatic control mechanism employed for driving and properly timing the operation of the pin agitators, pin erector and pin transfer mechanisms, and

Figure 9 is a schematic view illustrating the interrupted reciprocating movements of the pin agitators.

With reference tothe drawings, the invention consists of a bowling pin spotting machine provided with novel pin orienting and aligning mechanism as illustrated in Figures 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9. This mechanism operates in conjunction with and in synchronism with a pin pick-up transfer and positioning mechanism shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. The pin orienting and aligning mechanism, designated generally 20, is located Within pit P of a bowling alley AL, and consists of a suitable transverse board or platform 12, which in the illustrated embodiment extends over substantially the entire area of pit P between kickbacks KI, and from adjacent to header board BO 0 alley AL to cushion CU at the rear of pit P.

Platform 12 is supported at its front and rear portions by suitable brackets 14 and 16 which are secured to transverse bearing plates 18 and 19 (Figure 6) respectively, each of which at its ends is suitably fastened to and held by the inner walls of kickbacks KI of the bowling alley.

Since ten pins are generally used in playing the game,

platform 12 is provided with ten'equally spaced pockets or cavities 22 arranged in a row extending transversely of the pit P. The number of pockets may, of course, be changed as desired. Each cavity has the general outline of a pair of pins placed butt end to butt end so that a pin may fall into each cavity 22 either forwardly or backwardly.

Each cavity or pocket 22 includes a pair of vertical side walls 24 preferably shaped to conform with the shape and outline of a cavity 22. The bottom of each pocket 22 is formed by two slightly curved and inclined hinged members 26, each of which at its lowermost end is loosely mounted on a horizontal shaft 28 supported in suitable bearings in pocket walls 24. Shafts 28 are mounted parallel and fairly close to each other in the center and lowermost portion of each pocket 22. The upper free side edges of each member 26 are supported in pin receiving position and against free downward movement by plates 30 (Figures 6 and 7) extending outwardly from the lower edges of walls 24. The upper portion of each member 26 is provided with a slotted cross bar 32, in which the upper or free end of a suitably shaped erector arm 34 can slide. Arm 34 is attached to the center of horizontal shaft 28. It will be evident, therefore, that each pocket has a pair of pin erecting members 26 and a pair of erector arms 34, which when swung upwardly, move a pin from prone to upright position. The two shafts 28 in each pocket are operatively connected for simultaneous operation by a pair of intermeshing gear segments 36, one segment 36 mounted on each shaft. One segment of each pair of segments 36 is provided with an arm 38 connected by an adjustable rod 40 to an actuating lever 42. The several levers 42 are secured to a transverse horizontal shaft 44 mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) attached to the inner walls of kickbacks Kl. Shaft 44 (Figures 1, and 6) is oscillated by means of three identical cam levers 46 mounted thereon. cam followers or rollers 47 running on suitable identical cams 48, all attached to transverse cam shaft 50. Secured to cam shaft 50 is a sprocket 52 (Figures 1, 5 and 6) which is driven at the proper time through a chain 55 with chain 60.

Levers 46 carry from a sprocket 56 (Figure l) on main cam shaft 128,

the timing and control of which will be described hereinafter. It is evident that at the proper time in the operation of the machine, oscillating motion of shaft 44, effected by the rotation of cams 48, causes each pair of gear segments 36 to rock shafts 28 in such manner that the two shafts 28 of each pair of shafts 28 turn in opposite directions. Since each shaft 28 is secured to an arm 34 which engages with a hinged member 26, this motion causes the two members 26 in each cavity to move upwardly towards each other or downwardly away from each other, the latter representing the lowermost position as shown in Figure 6, while the former represents the raised position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6. The space between the two shafts 28 in each cavity is bridged by means of a suitably shaped plate 37 secured to ribs 39 extending between the bearings of shafts 28 in pocket walls 24.

When in pin receiving position, as shown in full lines in Figure 6, members 26 in each pocket or cavity 22 are in their down positions, and together'with the bridge plate 37, form the bottom of their respective pockets 22. After a pin has dropped or been directed into each of the pockets 22 and they are filled, all members -26 in proper timed relation during the operation of the machine are moved into an upright position (Figures 1 and 6) there by causing each pin in its respective pocket to be erected and brought into handle end upright position in such a manner that all erected pins are standing in aligned arrangement across pit P.

During the playing of the game, after each ball of a frame is rolled and separated from the pins and returned to the bowler by any suitable means (not shown), fallen pins which have not rolled off alley AL or dropped therefrom are swept by suitable means from the alley and gutter into pit P. Pins dropping or swept into pit P tend to roll into empty pockets 22. However, in order to facilitate their entry into empty pockets 22, and insure that each pocket 22 will be filled with a pin, there is provided a number of agitators or pin arranging members 54 for this purpose. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, and as illustrated schematically in Figure 9, agitators 54 are so mounted and operated that they sweep transversely across pit P above pockets 22 and-propel pins not already located in pockets 22 back and forth until such pins drop into and fill any empty pockets 22. Each pin agitator of the number disclosed in the preferred embodiment selected for purposes of illustration consists of a yielding or flexible rod, such as a self-supporting cantilever mounted spring 54 (Figures 5, 6 and 9). Agitators 54 are arranged horizontally in two rows opposite and extending towards each other, each rod or spring 54 reaching a little more than half way across the row of pockets or cavities 22 in pit P.

Each spring rod 54 at one end is provided with a stud 57 secured to a lug 58. One set of lugs 58 is secured to and properly spaced on a transversely extending endless chain 60 in the rear of the pit. Another set of lugs 58 is properly spaced on and secured to an endless chain 62 in the front portion of the pit and parallel The front and rear sets of agitators 54 are arranged in a staggered manner and are so spaced and their motion so controlled that when pins lying on platform 12 are engaged and displaced thereby, each spring rod 54 during the interruption of its reciprocating travel across pit P will come to rest substantially on the center line between two cavities 22 or adjacent to the outer edges of the two outer cavities 22 at the sides of the pit. This arrangement and operation insures that there will be no obstruction to the entry of pins into cavities 22 when the movement of chains 60 and 62 is interrupted. Rear chain 60 and front chain 62 are driven by means of sprocket 64 and 66, respectively, both sprockets being mounted on a shaft 68 which in turn is intermittently operated by a suitable reversible gear reduction motor 70 (Figures 5 and 6). Rear chain 60 is guided along a generally rectangular path of travel over idler sprockets 72 mounted on studs, 74 in transverse bearing plate 19. Front chain 62 is also guided along the same path of travel over idler sprockets 76 mounted on studs 78 in transverse bearing plate 18.

The transverse reciprocating intermittent or interrupted movement of spring rods or agitators 54 is illustrated schematically in Figure 9, and for this purpose spring rods 54 in this figure are numbered from I to WI. Spring rods 1, III, V and VII are shown as extending from and mounted for movement by rear chain 60.

Spring rods II, IV and VI are illustrated as extending from and mounted for movement by front chain 62. Lines B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J indicate the center lines between pockets or cavities 22. Lines A and K indicate lines or positions adjacent the extreme outer walls of the two end pockets 22 at opposite sides of the pit. The positions of the spring rods or agitators 54 illustrated in Figure 9, are their normal or rest positions, ready to be set into operation to direct pins into pockets 22. After pins have been swept by sweeps from the alley into the pit, a suitable control mechanism, described hereinafter, starts and stops motor 70 in such manner that chains 60, 62 are alternately moved and stopped as they travel agitators 54 back and forth across pit P. For example, in the operation of a typical agitator, say spring red v'll, as shown in Figure 9, when motor 70 is started, rod VII moves transversely over cavities 22 from position A to position C. Motor 70 is then stopped and rod Vll dwells at position C until motor 70 is started again. This same operation takes place as red VII progresses from positions C to E, E to G,.G to I, and I to K. When rod VII arrives at position K, motor 70 is reversed and amense rod VII is moved in the same interrupted manner in the opposite direction along the same path over pockets or cavities 22' until it. reaches its original starting position A. After a short stop, the interrupted motions of the chains 60 and 62 and rods I+ VII continue in the same direction and in the same interrupted manner until spring rod I arrives at position A, at which time motor 70 is reversed again and spring rod I is moved again across the top of the cavities in the opposite direction until it reaches its originalposition at line K. If, at that time, all cavities or pockets 22 are filled, motor 70 is stopped; members 26 are actuated by earns 48 and move the pins in the cavities 22 to upright position.- While the movement of rods I and VII only has been mentioned, it will be readily apparent that rods II to VI have a similar operating motion back and forth across pit P.

The reason for the preferred interrupted or intermittent motion of the spring rods 54 is to give bowling pins, lying in pit P 'after being engaged and moved by a rod or agitator 54, time to roll or work themselves into adjacent empty cavities 22, and not to be kept continuously in motion before they are able to come to rest or move into cavities 22 below the plane of the rods 54. With this arrangement, pins are not knocked together or worn as they would be if continuously agitated.

They can roll or drop away from rods 54 suificiently to move downwardly into an empty pocket 22, so that on subsequent forward or reverse motion, rods 54 can pass over pins in pockets 22 without disturbing them. Thus pins continue to orient themselves in the bottoms of the cavities or pockets 22 if they have not already done so. Since the depths of the cavities or pockets 22 are less than the diameter of the pins, each cavity can receive only one pin and therefore flexible rods 54 brush or propel loose or free pins transversely across pit P until these pins find empty cavities or pockets 22 and fall in. As mentioned heretofore, each cavity 22 has the approximate outline of a pair of pins placed butt end to butt end, so that the pins may fall into the cavities 22 with the head ends thereof directed either forwardly or backwardly.

It is desirable to protect chains 60 and 62 from the impact of pins falling or tumbling into pit P and onto platform 12. Therefore chain 60 is shielded by a suitably shaped guard plate 80 secured to a horizontal flange of bearing plate 19. Chain 62 is protected in a similar manner by guard plate 82 attached to the lower portion of header board BO attached to the pit end of alley AL. To maintain spring rods or agitators 54 horizontal and increase their stability during their movements, and while moving pins, the top portions of brackets 14 and 16 are provided with transversely extending guide rails 84 and 86, respectively. These rails serve as guides and supports for flexible agitators 54 on chains 62 and 60, respectively.

When all cavities or pockets 22 are filled, pins contained therein, as mentioned heretofore, are moved from prone to upright position by means of the upward movement of all members 26. This operation effects a lifting of the head ends of all pins in pockets 22 which in prone position are'ofi center relative to the centrally located butt ends, and at the same time, the upright pins are aligned in a single file across the pit.

As the result of the operation of the mechanism described above, a full set of pins is oriented and aligned in the pit of a bowling alley ready to be removed therefrom and spotted in playing arrangement on the pin supporting portion of alley AL. The method employed eliminates the necessity-for elevating each pin to a position above the pit where each pin is conveyed by gravity or otherwise into orienting, aligning and distributing mechanism. As a result of the present invention, orienting and aligning takes place rapidly, and the wear and tear on pins is reduced to a minimum.

A suitable mechanism for transferring pins from pockets 22 and spotting them on alleyAL is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. The pin transfer andspotting mechanism (Figures 1 and 2) consists of a table, designated generally T, having a frame 90. Mounted at each side of frame is a bracket 92 provided with studs 93 supporting spaced pairs of guide rollers 94 having grooves which engage and run on guide rail 96 secured to a kickback KI. The top portion of each guide rail 96 is secured to the main frame 98 of the bowling pin spotting machine. The lower end of each guide rail 96 carries a spacer plate 100, which is fastened by studs 102 to a bracket 1124 secured to the top of its respective kickback KI. I

Attached to the top portion of each bracket 92 is a cable clamp lug 106 to which is connected one end of a cable 108. The other end of each of the cables 108 is attached to a suitable grooved pulley 110. Pulleys 110 are keyed to the opposite ends of horizontal shaft 112 (Figure 1) supported in suitable bearing brackets attached to side frame members 98 of the bowling pin spotting machine. Also keyed to shaft 112 is a gear 114 which meshes with and is oscillated by a gear rack 116 provided with a connecting rod 118 pivotally connected to cam lever 120 loosely mounted on a horizontal shaft 122 of the machine. Cam lever 120 carries a cam follower 124 running on cam 126 loosely mounted on continuously driven main drive shaft 128 of the bowling pin spotting machine. The hub of cam 126 carries a solenoid operated clutch 130 of any suitable conventional type which is actuated through an electrical control described hereinafter. When clutch 130 of cam 126 engages with the continuously driven main drive shaft 128, cam 126 through cam lever 120 and gear rack 116 oscillates gear 114 which in turn oscillates'the' two cable pulleys 110 to raise or lower transfer table T. I

A rear cross member 132 of table frame 90 carries on its lower side ten rail supporting brackets 134, each having attached thereto one end of a rail 136. The other ends of seven rails 136 are suitably attached to another cross member 138 of frame 90. The other ends of three rails 136 are attached to cross member 140 on frame 90. Running on the top edge of each rail 136 is a pair of grooved rollers 142 (Figure 3) rotatably mounted on a trolley 144 to which is secured a pin gripping device L. In the illustrated embodiment, there are ten trolleys, each supporting a gripping device L. Since they are identical in construction and operation, it is deemed sufiicient to describe only one. In order to insure that trolleys 144 will be operatively supported on rails 136 at all times, each trolley 144 is provided with an additional grooved guide roller 146 which engages with the bottom edge of the rail 136 on which it is mounted.

Each pin gripping device L consists of a flange 148 secured to the bottom portion of its respective trolley 144. Flange 148 is provided with four equally spaced forked lugs 150 projecting downwardly from the lower side of flange 148. In the fork of each lug 150 is mounted a stud or short shaft 152 to which is pivoted a suitably shaped gripper finger 154, the free end of which extends downwardly. Mounted on each stud 152 is a tension spring 156 having one end anchored to lug 150 and its other end bearing against the outer side of a gripper finger 154. In this manner, the four fingers 154 of each gripping device L are forced inwardly towards each other. The resilient pressure exerted by springs 156 on fingers 154 is such that when the head of a bowling pin is inserted between fingers 154, it is firmly gripped for lifting and transfer to alley AL.

The central portion of the lower side of each flange 148 is .provided with a hub 158 to which is secured one end of short shaft 160, the free end of which extends downwardly and carries a slidably mounted pin head engaging and centering member 162, the lower surface 164 of which is shaped to conform with the contour of the head of a bowling pin. The lower end of shaft 160 waste is also provided with a conventional ball detent 166 employed for the purpose of engaging with either one of two annular grooves 168 with which the bore of the stern portion of member 162 is provided. When ball detent 166 engages with upper groove 168 in member 162, the latter is in its lower position and gripper fingers 154 are free for gripping action. When member 162 is shifted or pressed upwardly to its upper position, ball detent 166 engages lower groove 168 in member 162 causing the outer edge 170 of the member 162 to engage with the inner side of fingers 154 in such a manner as to effect an outward movement or spreading of gripper fingers 154 and releasing of the bowling pin which may have been held by fingers 154 of a gripping device L. In order to prevent undesirable turning of member 162 on shaft 160, the stem portion of member 162 is provided with a pin 172 which engages a vertical slot 174 in shaft 160.

Trolleys 144 are moved horizontally along rails 136 by means of endless cables 176. Since all trolleys are operated in the same manner, details of construction of the operating means of only one are described. Suitably attached to a trolley 144 is a separate endless cable 176, one end of which is wound several times around a drum or pulley 178. The other end of cable 176 is guided over an idler roller 180 rotatably mounted on its respective rail 136. Cable drum 178 is mounted on a separate stud 182 held by bearing lug 184 of its respective rail supporting bracket 134.

A gear 186 mounted on shaft 182 meshes with another gear 188 secured to horizontal shaft 190 supported by a pair of suitable bearing brackets 192 attached to table frame 90. Since there are ten trolleys to be moved back and forth along rails 136, ten gears 188 are provided. Shaft 190 is driven through a gear 191 on a shaft 193 (Figure 1) of a conventional reversible gear reduction motor 194 (Figures 1 and 2) mounted on a bracket 196 attached to the frame cross member 132. Motor 194 is so operated during the operation of the machine that it turns shaft 190 either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Through the gearing described above, all cable drums 178 are rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise and through cables 176 effect a back and forth motion of trolleys 144 on rails 136.

In operation, transfer table T descends from its uppermost position to its lowermost position T1, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, after pins in pockets 22 have been moved to upright aligned arrangement as shown in Figure 1. During downward movement of transfer table T, the trolleys 144 and their pin gripping devices L are in their rearmost position. Pin centering members 162 are held in their lower position by the engagement of ball detent 166 with the upper annular groove 168 in member 162. This allows tension springs 156 to move each set of pin gripper fingers 154 inwardly so that each set of fingers is under full gripping tension. The pin gripping devices L are so spaced on the transfer table T, that each device L is substantially vertically aligned with the axis of an upright pin in a cavity 22. Therefore, when table T descends to its lowermost position T1, each set of gripper fingers slides over the curved head portion of a pin and firmly grips its neck portion. In the pin gripping operation, table T descends only far enough so that each pin centering member 162 of a gripping device L just touches the head of a pin without causing any movement or shifting of a member 162. While the pins are held gripped by the pin gripping devices L, table T ascends and dwells at a position T2 indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. After the table has come to rest at this position, the reversible reduction gear motor 194 is started.

As described above, cable drums 178 are then rotated, and through cables 176, effect a forward motion and differential travel of trolleys 144 along rails 136. As shown be moved into a substantially triangular arrangement, with one trolley over each of the pin spots on alley AL. The dot and dash circles PS1 to PS10 inclusive, shown in Figure 2, indicate the pattern of the conventional playing arrangement of bowling pins on a bowling alley.

in order to prevent interferences between pins while being carried by gripping devices L to their respective final positions over alley AL, and taking into consideration differences in distances each pin travels to its respective final position, the gearing of cable drums 178, i. e., diameter of each gear 186 in relation to each gear in each of the ten sets of gears, varies in such a way as to obtain the desired results, so that all pins arrive over tleir respective final positions at substantially the same time. Motor 194 then shuts off again and all trolleys of gripping devices L come to rest.

Transfer table T then descends, and all pins are set on their respective spots on the bowling alley. At this time, table T does not come to rest as soon as pins, held in gripping devices L, engage alley AL. Instead, table T moves downwardly further, thereby causing pin centering members 162 of gripping devices L to be pushed or pressed upwardly on shafts by the heads of standing pins. This operation causes outer edges of members 162 to act as cams and press against the inner sides of gripper fingers 154, thereby spreading gripper fingers 154 and releasing the spotted pins therefrom. Table T moves downwardly until member 162 is moved upwardly by the head of a pin held by gripping fingers 154, causing ball detent 166 to enter the lower annular groove 168 in the bore of member 162, after which the table stops. Fingers 154 are now spread apart and held in this position so long as member 162 is locked by the engagement of ball detent 166 in lower groove 168. The position T3 of table T and fingers 154 is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. Upon release of spotted pins from gripping devices L, transfer table T ascends again to its original uppermost position where it dwells untilthe next cycle of the machine.

After table T reaches its uppermost position, reversible gear reduction motor 194 starts again, this time causing cable drums 178 to turn in the opposite direction and return trolleys 144 and gripping devices L to their original starting positions. In order to close the now spread apart gripper fingers again and prepare them for the next pick-up cycle, the lower portion of each rail supporting bracket 134 supports a wedge or cam 200, each wedge projecting horizontally into the path of a short shaft 160 on hub 158 of flange 148 of each pin gripping device L. Each short shaft 160 is provided with a corresponding vertical slot 202 (Figure 4) which permits its coacting wedge 200 to pass freely through the center of its corresponding shaft 160. The top surface 204 of the stem portion of each pin centering member 162 has the same degree of inclination as the lower edge of wedge 200 so that when trolleys 144 are brought to their original starting position, wedges 200 pass through vertical slots 202 of their corresponding shafts 160, thereby bringing wedges 200 into contact with the inclined top surfaces 204 of the stems of their respective members 162. 'Upon further rearward or inward movement of trolleys 144, the several pin centeringmembers 162 are pressed or cammed downwardly by wedges 200 and gripper fingers 154 are free to return under action of springs 156 to their original closed positions. While being moved downwardly, the lower annular groove 168 is disengaged from ball detent 166 and the distance of downward travel is only that needed to cause an engagement of ball detent 166 with the upper annular groove in the bore of the stem portion of member 162. After trolleys 144 and pin gripper devices L and their gripper fingers 154 resume their original positions, motor 194 is stopped again and the machine is ready for a new cycle.

In order to provide for proper sequence of operations and-correct timing for the various mechanisms of the machine, an electrical control system such as illustratedin Figure 8 may be used. To make certain that no other mechanism is set in motion until all pockets or cavities 22 are filled, each of the ten pockets or cavities 22 is provided with a pair of normally closed switches 210 and 212. Switch 210 is mounted adjacent one end of a cavity 22. Switch 212 is mounted adjacent the other end of the same cavity 22. Each switch is secured to a suitably shaped bridge bracket 214 (Figures 6 and 7) attached to'the lower side of flanges 30 of side walls 24. Each set of switches 210 and 212 is so arranged that the actuating bar of one switch projects through a suitable slot in one of the erecting members 26, and the actuating bar of the other switch extends through a suitable opening in the other erecting member 26. Each switch is located near the free end of its respective pin erecting member 26 so that when a bowling pin comes to rest in a cavity, the head of the bowling pin will depress the actuating bar of either switch 210 or switch 212 depending on the position of the pin in the cavity 22. With reference to the electrical control shown in Figure 8, each pair of switches 210 and 212 in each cavity 22 is connected in series. The ten pairs of switches are connected in parallel.

After sweep S of the bowling pin spotting machine has swept all pins into the pit P, a push button 220 is depressed momentarily. This causes the energization of relay 222 which is locked in through its own contact a and through the normally closed cavity switches 210 and 212. The energization of relay 222 also closes a contact b, which effects the starting of control motor 224. Shaft 226 of control motor 224 carries an interrupter cam 228 which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 8. Also secured to shaft 226 is a worm 230 meshing with a worm wheel 232 mounted on a shaft 234 which is rotated in proper relation to shaft 226 in the direction indicated by arrow 231 in Figure 8. Also secured to shaft 234-is a motor control cam 236, a clutch control cam 238 and a cycle control cam 240.

The starting of control motor 224 effects a turning of shafts 226 and 234 and motor control cam 236 immediately moves motor reversing switch 242 from its neutral position into engagement with its right hand contact 244, as viewed in Figure 8, which because contacts 229 controlled by interrupter cam 228 are closed, effects the starting of reversible reduction gear motor 70. The latter, as mentioned heretofore, constitutes the driving means for the pin agitators or spring rods 54 which are moved transversely back and forth over cavities or pockets 22. When switch arm 243 rides on the high portions of cam 236, switch 242 is in engagement with its right hand contact 244 which results in motor 70 turning in one direction. When, however, switch arm 243 rides on the low portion of cam 236, switch 242 is brought into contact with its left hand contact 245, which causes motor 70 to turn in the opposite direction.

The stopping of spring rods or agitators 54 on the center lines between the several cavities 22, as mentioned heretofore, is effected by interrupter cam 228 on control motor shaft 226. When contact arm 227 rides on the high portion of cam 228, contacts 229 remainclosed and permit current to flow to the reversing switch 242, but when arm 227 rides on the low portion of cam 228, the contacts 229 are broken and interrupt the current flow to said switch, thus effecting a control of the intermittent motion of spring rods 54 in either direction. Regardless of how many cycles are necessary to locate the bowling pins in cavities 22, agitators 54 are kept in motion by motor 7 until all cavities are filled. I

As mentioned heretofore, when a pin occupies a cavity, it depresses either switch 210 or 212, depending on the position of the head of the pin. Therefore, when all cavities are filled, the current to lock-in contact a of relay 222 is interrupted and relay 222 is immediately deenergized. Contact b of the same relay, which permitted the running of control motor 224, is, of course, also 10 broken at this moment, but control motor 224 is kept in operation through a normally closed contact 0 on relay 222 and by means of contacts 241 which are kept closed by means of cycle control cam 240 until the end of each cycle. This prevents the control mechanism from getting out of phase or time regardless of when the filling of the cavities or pockets 22 is completed. At the completion of the cycle, a high spot on cam 240 opens contacts 241 and an intermediate spot on cam 236 throws switch 242 into neutral position, thus stopping control motor 224 and reversible gear reduction motor 70. All cavities 22 are then filled and agitators 54 are at rest in their original starting positions. However, after relay 222 is de-energized and shortly before the end of a cycle,

a high spot 239 on clutch control cam 238 engages a contact arm 250, causing momentary closing of contacts 252, which through a normally closed contact d of relay 222, effects a momentary energization of a solenoid 254 of solenoid-operated one-revolution clutch 130 of cam 126.

The energization of solenoid 254 causes its armature 256 to actuate bell crank lever 258 in such manner that the free end of lever 258 is moved out of engagement with spring loaded clutch control lug 260 mounted on or in the hub of transfer table T actuating cam 126 which, as mentioned heretofore, is loosely mounted on the continuously rotating main drive shaft 128 of the bowling pin spotting machine. The momentary release of the clutch control lug 260 effects an engagement of the clutch mechanism in the cam hub with the rotating drive'shaft 128 and causes cam 126 to rotate also.

Also attached to the hub of cam 126 is a sleeve 262 on which is mounted sprocket 56 and a pin gripper motor control cam 264. Sprocket 56, through chain 55, sprocket 52, shaft 50 and earns 48, actuates the pin erecting members 26 in cavities 22. Therefore, as soon as sprocket 56 on sleeve 262 starts to turn, cams 48 also begin to rotate, and through cam levers 42, rods 40, gear segments 36, and shafts 28, effect an upward movement of pin erecting members 26 in cavities 22, the movement of which results in the erection of each pin in the several cavities 22. After a set of pins is removed from cavities 22, continued rotation of cams 48 results in the return of members 26 to the bottom of cavities 22.

In the meantime, cam 126 also has rotated, and by the time all pins are in upright position, the cam follower 124 on cam lever is ready to ride from high portion 266 of cam 126 onto low portion 268 thereof, as illustrated in Figure 1. The movement of cam lever 120 from high portion 266 to low portion 268 of cam 126 results in the lowering of the transfer table T into the pit and an engagement 'of the gripper mechanism with the necks of the pins as described heretofore. After ashort dwell of transfer table T in pin gripping position in pit P, cam roller 124 on cam lever 120 rides from the lowermost portion 268 on cam 126 onto a higher portion 270, thereby raising table T again and bringing it to such a position that the butt ends of the pins gripped and held by the gripping devices L clear the alley bed AL, when they are removed from pockets 22 for placement on alley AL. Table T then dwells in this elevated position, during which time high portion 272 of cam 264 has moved into engagement with and depresses switch arm 274. This operation causes switch 276 to move from its neutral position into engagement with its left hand contact 278 and start reversible reduction gear motor 194.

The starting of motor 194 actuates cable drums 178 which move the trolleys 144 and pin gripping devices L along the rails 136 to their designated spots over alley bed AL as described heretofore. Cam 264 is so designed and timed, that upon arrival of pin gripping devices L over their respective spots, switch arm'274 rides from high spot 272 onto an intermediate low surface 280 of cam 264, causing switch 276 to snap back to its neutral position and break its left hand contact 278, men- A 11 tioned above, thus stopping motor 194 and arresting the motion of trolleys 144.

In the meantime, cam 126 has also advanced further, and upon arrest of motor 194, cam roller 126 on cam lever 120 rides from portion 270 of cam 126 onto a slightly lower portion 282 of the same, which results in the lowering of transfer table T, the spotting of bowling pins held in gripping devices L on their respective spots on alley bed AL, and also in the release of pins from their respective gripping devices L, as described heretofore. Cam roller 124 on cam lever 12!) then rides from portion 282 onto the highest portion 266 of cam 126. This causes transfer table T to rise to its highest or starting position. In the meantime, cam 264 has also advanced, and switch arm 274 rides from the intermediate or neutral portion 280 to a lower portion 234 of cam 264 causing switch 276 to be moved from its neutral position into engagement with its right hand contact 236, which restarts motor 194 in the opposite direction. This in turn effects a return movement of trolleys 144 and gripping devices L from their advanced or spotting positions to their original starting positions adjacent cross member 132 of transfer table frame 90.

During the return movement of gripping devices L, gripper fingers 154 are still open. However, shortly be fore trolleys 144 and gripping devices L reach their original positions, the latter are engaged by the stationary cams or wedges 209, and fingers 154 are closed in the manner described heretofore. When trolleys 144 and gripping devices L reach their original or starting positions, switch arm 274 rides from portion 284 onto the higher portion 288, which results in a return of switch 276 to its neutral position and an opening of contact 286, thus stopping motor 194 and movement of trolleys 144.

Since solenoid 254 is energized only temporarily to permit a release of clutch control lug 269, the free end of bell crank lever 258 has dropped back again and into the path of lug 260, rotating with the hub of cam 126. When lug 260 after one revolution of cam 126 passes underneath the free end of bell crank lever 258, the latter depresses lug 260 and causes a disengagement of the clutch mechanism in the hub of cam 126 from the continuously driven shaft 128, thereby resulting in the arrest of cam 126 and sleeve 262 at their original starting positions. The machine is then ready for a new cycle of operations when push button 220 is again depressed.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular embodiments selected to illustrate the invention are but a few of the possible concrete forms which our invention may assume. to be restricted to the precise details of the structures shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit adapted to receive a plurality of pins in irregular order, and a pin supporting deck, mechanism in said pit having positively actuated members for orienting said pins and arranging them in said pit with their longitudinal axes lying in substantially parallel planes, and a transfer for removing said arranged pins directly out of said mechanism in said pit and locating them in playing arrangement on said deck.

2. In a bowling pin spotting machine, a pin orienting and arranging device in the pit of a bowling alley, constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of irregularly arranged bowling pins, said device including a plurality of pockets mounted in side by side relationship, means for engaging said irregularly arranged pins located in said device and feeding a single pin into each pocket of said device in said pit, pin transfer mechanism and means for actuating said mechanism for removing said pins from said pockets and out of said pit and placing them in predetermined playing arrangement on the playing deck of said bowling alley.

3. A bowling pin spotting machine comprising a pin The invention, therefore, is not orienting and assembling device located in the pit of a bowling alley and adapted to receive a plurality of irregularly arranged bowling pins, said device including a plurality of side by side pin receiving pockets, means in each of said pockets for positioning a pin in said pocket in substantially vertical upright arrangement, pin transfer units, means mounting said transfer units for movement from a pin receiving position adjacent said device to pin delivering position adjacent the playing deck of the bowling alley, and means operative when said pins in said pockets have been positioned in said substantially upright arrangement for actuating said transfer units to cause said transfer units to engage and remove said pins from said pockets and place them in playing arrangement on said deck.

4. A bowling pin spotting machine comprising a pin orienting and assembling device located in the pit of a bowling alley and adapted to receive a plurality of irregularly arranged bowling pins, said device including a plurality of side by side pin receiving and orienting pockets, means in each of said pockets for positioning a pin in said pocket in substantially vertical arrangement, a pin transfer mechanism, said mechanism including a plurality of carriages, grippers mounted on each of said carriages, a support for said carriages, means mounting said support for movement to and from the playing deck of the bowling alley, and means operative after said pins in said pockets have been positioned in substantially vertical arrangement for causing said grippers to grip said pins in said pockets, and mechanism for moving said carriages with pins held by said grippers and said support to remove said pins from said pockets and deliver them in playing arrangement on the playing deck of said alley, and means operative when said pins are positioned on said deck for opening said grippers to release said pins.

5. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with an alley having a pit and a pin supporting deck, a pin orienting and arranging device in said pit and constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of irregularly arranged bowling pins, said device including a plurality of pockets mounted in side by side relationship, each of said pockets having a central pin base receiving portion and two outwardly extending end portions adapted to receive the handle end of a pin, means for engaging said irregularly arranged pins and feeding a single pin into each pocket, means for moving said pins in said pockets into substantially vertical position, pin transfer mechanism and means for actuating said mechanism for removing said substantially vertical pins from said pockets directly out of said pit and placing them in predetermined playing arrangement on the playing deck of the bowling alley.

6. A bowling pin spotting machine comprising a pin orienting and assembling device in the pit of a bowling alley adapted to receive a plurality of irregularly arranged bowling pins, said device including a pin receiving platform, a plurality of side by side pin receiving pockets formed in said platform, means in each of said pockets for positioning a pin in said pocket in substantially vertical upright arrangement, pin transfer devices, means mounting said devices for movement from a pin receiving position adjacent said device to a pin delivering position adjacent the playing deck of the bowling alley, and means for actuating said devices to cause said devices to remove said pins directly from said pockets and place them on said deck.

7. A bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pin deck and a pit comprising a pin orienting and assembling device in said pit adapted to receive a plurality of irregularly arranged bowling pins, said device including a plurality of side by side pin receiving and orienting pockets, pin agitating members mounted for movement above said pockets, actuating mechanism for moving said members back and forth above said pockets to agitate and move said pins in said device whereby to deliver a pin into each of said pockets, means for stopping said actuating mechanism when each of said pockets contains a pin, means in each of said pockets for positioning a pin in said pocket in substantially vertical arrangement, a pin transfer mechanism, said mechanism including a plurality of carriages, grippers mounted on each of said carriages, a support for said carriages, means mounting said support for movement to and from the playing deck of the bowling alley, and means operative after said pins in said pockets have been positioned in substantially vertical arrangement for causing said grippers to grip said substantially vertical pins in said pockets, and mechanism for moving said carriages with pins held by said grippers to remove said pins from said pockets directly out of said pit and deliver them in playing arrangement on the playing deck of said alley, and means operative when said pins are positioned on said deck for opening said grippers to release said pins.

8. A bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit adjacent one end and a pm supporting deck, comprising a pin assembling device located in said pit, means for operating said device to assemble a plurality of pins therein with the longitudinal axes of said pins located in a predetermined arrange ment, a pin transfer, movable gripping devices on said transfer, means for actuating said gripping devices to grip and remove said arranged pins out of said pit, and means for moving said gripping devices and pins held thereby to pin spotting position above said deck for spotting said pins in playing arrangement on said deck.

9. A bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, mechanism for assembling a plurality of pins in upright arrangement in said pit, a pin transfer, a plurality of gripping devices on said transfer, means mounting said transfer above said bowling alley for movement to dispose said devices in position to grip said assembled pins in said pit, and to release said pins in spotted arrangement on the pin supporting bed of said alley, means for operating said devices when located in said pit for gripping a plurality of upright pins to be removed and transferred thereby directly to said bed, means for moving said devices on said transfer into substantially triangular pin playing arrangement when said transfer is located above said bed, and means for operating said devices to release pins gripped thereby and spotted on said alley when said transfer has located said devices in pin spotting position adjacent said alley.

10. A bowling pin spotting machine comprising a pin orienting and assembling device located in the pit of a bowling alley, including means for positioning a plurality of pins in upright arrangement in said device, a pin transfer, pin gripping devices movably mounted on said transfer, means mounting said transfer for movement to and from the playing bed of said alley for locating said devices in gripping relationship with upright pins in said pit, and in pin spotting position above said bed, means operative after said upright pins in said pit have been gripped by said devices for imparting differential travel to each of said devices to locate said devices in positions above said alley bed conforming substantially with on-spot playing positions on said alley bed, and means operative when said transfer is located adjacent the playing bed of said alley for effecting the release of said pins from said gripping devices whereby "said 14 pins are spotted in playing arrangement on said alley bed.

11. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanism is provided with pin receiving receptacles, and means for operating said members to direct pins into said receptacles.

12. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit, a pin orienting and assembling device in said pit constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of irregularly arranged bowling pins, said device comprising a plurality of pin receiving receptacles, movable pin positioning means mounted above.

said receptacles, said means including pin engaging members, means for moving said members to engage and deliver pins into said receptacles of said device with the longitudinal axes of said pins lying in substantially parallel planes, pin transfer means, and mechanism for operating said transfer means to move said positioned pins out of said receptacles of said device in said pit, and place them in playing positions on the playing deck of said bowling alley.

13. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit, pin receptacles in said pit, and a pin supporting deck, pin handling mechanism in said pit, means for operating said mechanism to engage pins delivered into said pit and move said pins into said receptacles wth their longitudinal axes lying in substantially parallel planes, and transfer means for removing said assembled pins upwardly and out of said receptacles and said pit for placement in upright playing arrangement on said deck.

14. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit, a pin orienting and assembling device in said pit constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of irregularly arranged bowling pins, means located in said pit for engaging and positioning said pins in orderly arrangement in said device in said pit, means for operating said pin engaging means in said pit, pin transfer means, and mechanism for operating said transfer means to move said positioned pins out of said device in said pit and place them in playing positions on the playing deck of said alley.

15. The invention defined in claim 13, wherein said mechanism includes movable pin engaging and arranging members, and said operating means includes means for moving said members to engage and move said pins.

16. In a bowling pin setting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit and a pin supporting deck,

'a pin assembling and orienting device mounted in said pit, mechanism for receiving pins falling into said pit, members in said pit for engaging pins and moving them into said device with the longitudinal axes of said pins lying in substantially parallel planes, means for operating said members, and means for delivering said arranged pins out of said device in said pit for placement in upright playing arrangement on said deck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,320,370 Barrett Nov. 4, 1919 1,335,638 Barrett Mar. 30, 1920 1,625,980 Bn'nkman Apr. 26, 1927 1,784,084 Williams Dec. 9, 1930 2,341,475 Parra et al. Feb. 8, 1944 2,388,709 Rundell Nov. 13, 1945 2,518,457 Fretter Aug. 15, 1950 

